The Mother’s Knowledge and Practices of Responsive Feeding and The Nutritional Status of Toddlers With a History of Low Birth Weight

Abstract

Toddlers with a history of low birth weight (LBW) are particularly vulnerable to nutritional problems, and appropriate feeding practices play an important role in supporting their nutritional needs. Responsive feeding emphasizes caregivers' ability to recognize and respond to children's hunger and satiety cues. This study aimed to examine the associations between maternal knowledge, responsive feeding practices, and nutritional status among toddlers aged 6–36 months with a history of LBW. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in March 2026 in the working area of a primary health care center in Probolinggo Regency, East Java, Indonesia. A total of 102 mothers were recruited using purposive sampling. Maternal knowledge was assessed using a responsive feeding knowledge questionnaire, feeding practices were evaluated using the Responsive Feeding Practices Assessment Tool (RFPAT), and nutritional status was assessed using WHO Anthro software. Data were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results demonstrated significant positive correlations between maternal knowledge and categorized nutritional status (ρ = 0.493; p < 0.001) and between responsive feeding practices and categorized nutritional status (ρ = 0.558; p < 0.001). These findings indicate that maternal knowledge and responsive feeding practices were significantly associated with nutritional status among toddlers with a history of LBW. Integrating responsive feeding education and counseling into maternal and child health services may be considered, although further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to establish causal relationships and evaluate effectiveness.